Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island

Bolshoy Ussuriysky Island is a large sedimentary island.

It sits at the confluence of the Amur and Ussuri rivers. This means it is located where these two rivers meet. The island is a significant geographic feature in Northeast Asia. It is bounded by Yinlong Island and more than 90 smaller islets.

Because of its location near Khabarovsk, the island holds great strategic importance. Its position allows for control over important waterways.

The history of the island is defined by a long territorial dispute. For many years, China and Russia disagreed over who owned the land. The 1860 Convention of Peking set the original river boundaries. However, the Soviet Union forcefully occupied the island in 1929. This happened during the Russo-Manchurian conflict. China did not accept this occupation. Russia governed the area as part of Khabarovsk Krai. Meanwhile, China claimed it as part of Fuyuan County in Heilongjiang province.

Settling the dispute was difficult due to competing national interests. Russia wanted to maintain a buffer zone for the city of Khabarovsk. If the border followed the main river channel, the city might face artillery from the island. Russia also controlled the Amur and Ussuri waterways. During its period of control, Russia denied Chinese ships access to these rivers. These strategic needs made the negotiations very complex for both nations.

A peaceful solution was finally reached through several legal steps. On 14 October 2004, the two nations signed the Complementary Agreement. This document focused on the eastern section of the China-Russia boundary. Under this deal, Russia agreed to give up Yinlong Island. Russia also agreed to transfer about half of Bolshoy Ussuriysky to China. Specifically, China received approximately 170 to 174 square kilometers of the island.

In exchange, China dropped all other territorial claims. China also gained the right to navigate the main channel of the Amur.

The final border demarcation was completed in 2008. The Russian Federal Assembly and the Chinese National People's Congress approved the agreement in 2005. On 21 July 2008, foreign ministers signed the final papers in Beijing. The official transfer of territory took place on 14 October 2008. Today, the island is divided between two jurisdictions. The Chinese portion is in Fuyuan City. The Russian portion is in the Khabarovsky District of Khabarovsk Krai.

Even though the border is settled, the agreement caused controversy. In 2005, Cossacks in Khabarovsk demonstrated against the loss of land. Some Chinese media commentators also criticized the deal. They viewed it as a permanent loss of former Chinese territory. The Republic of China in Taipei also maintains a claim to the islands. This is because they do not recognize the treaties signed by the People's Republic of China. In 2023, a Chinese standard map included the entire island. This led to further debate in Japan and the South China Sea.

Despite these political tensions, the island is a vital center for biodiversity. In 2015, the PRC registered the island as a nature reserve. This helps protect the many species living there. The island hosts 505 species of flora, which are types of plants. It also supports 351 species of fauna, or animals.

Among these are 44 nationally protected species. The famous Siberian tiger lives in this habitat. There is even a dedicated bear park to contain black bears.

The island remains a point of connection between two major powers. While the border is officially resolved, economic ties continue to grow. In May 2024, Russia and China signed a roadmap for joint development. Russia acknowledges an increasing economic dependence on Beijing. China has invested heavily in developing its part of the island. This creates a complex relationship where geography, politics, and nature all meet.